100 Great Presentation Ideas by Forsyth Patrick;

Author:Forsyth, Patrick;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited

The idea

Recognize that many people find numbers difficult to grasp (or need a moment to do so) and make sure you do not confuse, when you should be making any necessary figures clear.

In practice

• The presentation of figures therefore generally needs to be well considered if it is to enhance a message. Some essential principles are to:

• Select what information is presented, focusing on key information and leaving out anything that is unnecessary. For instance, this can mean that information needs to be tailored – the detailed chart included in a report may be inappropriate to use for other purposes and must be abbreviated to make a clear slide.

• Separate information, for example into a handout to be studied after the presentation, so that the main message includes only key figures, and the overall flow of the case is maintained while more details can be accessed later if required.

• Separate too information and the calculations that arrive at it. This can also be done by providing separate backup information.

• Select the appropriate accuracy as you present figures. Sometimes accuracy helps understanding, or is simply important, while on other occasions it can confuse and ball park figures will suit better.

• Repeat: repetition helps get any message across, and with numbers natural repetition – for instance, going through them verbally and issuing something in writing or showing a slide as well – can make all the difference.

• Proof read: numbers must be checked very carefully; remember that one figure wrongly typed, and thus misquoted, might change things radically, and for the worse.

• For example, sales figures may be up but there are a variety of ways to describe this. It might be said that:

• “Sales are up.” No detail might be necessary.

• “Sales are up about 10%.” A broad estimate may be fine.

• “Sales are up 10.25%.” The precise figure may be important but note that it is nonsense to say, as is often heard: “Sales are up about 10.25%” – the word “about” only goes with round figures and estimates or forecasts.

• “Sales are up about £10,000.” The financial numbers may be more important than the percentage (and can be presented with the same different emphasis as just described for percentages). In addition, what the figures refer to must be made clear. For example: “Sales of product X are up 10.25% for the period January – June 2010.” Language can, of course, change all such statements – “Sales are up substantially” – maybe, as here, just by adding one word.

• Present information in a way that makes it easy for people to understand it; for example in graph form.

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